Dallas Cowboys Blog

Five Cowboys who exceeded expectations in 2011: No. 3

Though the Cowboys failed to make the playoffs for the third time in the last four seasons, there were players who exceeded expectations. There were also players that failed to live up to expectations.

We look at the top five players in each of those categories this week. Players exceeding expectations will appear at noon each day this week. Those failing to meet expectations debut at 3 p.m. each day this week.

No. 3 — K Dan Bailey: This rookie free agent made quite an impact.
Bailey kicked game-winning field goals in overtime against San Francisco in Week Two and Washington in Week 11. His 28-yarder as time expired gave the Cowboys a win over Miami on Thanksgiving. He kicked six field goals in the team’s 18-16 win over the Redskins in Week Three.

The rookie from Oklahoma State made 32 field goals in 2011. Only San Francisco’s David Akers (44) and Cincinnati’s Mike Nugent (33) made more. He began the season strictly as the field goal kicker while David Buehler boomed kickoffs. But once Buehler went to the injured list, Bailey assumed the kickoff duties and showed his leg was strong enough to handle kickoffs without it affecting his field goal accuracy.

Not bad for someone the Cowboys seemed to have little interest in during training camp. Bailey was brought in to compete with Buehler for the field goal job. The club brought in one veteran kicker after another after camp started to audition for the job.
Bailey was the last kicker standing.